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Baseball: David Price to Tigers in blockbuster deal

Associated Press

Posted:
07/31/2014 09:32:02 PM PDT

Updated:
07/31/2014 10:18:48 PM PDT

When David Price was finally traded, it was to an unexpected bidder.

The Detroit Tigers added another Cy Young Award winner to their star-studded rotation, acquiring Price from Tampa Bay in a blockbuster deal Thursday. The Rays received left-hander Drew Smyly and minor league infielder Willy Adames from the Tigers. Tampa Bay also got infielder Nick Franklin from Seattle, with Detroit outfielder Austin Jackson going to the Mariners.

The A.L. Central-leading Tigers are trying for their fourth consecutive division title, and their starting rotation was already a strength. General manager Dave Dombrowski decided to trade for Price anyway, giving Detroit a collection of stars on the mound that could be tough to match in any postseason series.

"The question that we asked ourselves is: What gives us the best chance of winning the world championship this year?" Dombrowski said. "We thought adding him to our rotation at this point would give us the best chance to do that."

The deal came just hours after the A's got an ace of their own, Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox

Price joins Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in the Detroit rotation, giving the Tigers the last three American League Cy Young winners.

The Tigers are the first team with three pitchers on the staff who have all won Cy Young Awards over the previous three seasons, according to STATS.

Tweeted Rays manager Joe Maddon: "No fun losing a David Price. Hate it. But we have to do what is best for our group. Continue to move it forward and that's what we've done."

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Tampa Bay signed Price to a $14 million deal for this season, avoiding arbitration, but he isn't eligible for free agency until after next season.

In other trades:

The Boston Red Sox traded right-hander John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Joe Kelly and outfielder Allen Craig.

The Red Sox also dealt shortstop Stephen Drew to the New York Yankees for third baseman Kelly Johnson and sent left-handed reliever Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

The Miami Marlins were shoppers instead of sellers for a change, acquiring right-hander Jarred Cosart from the Houston Astros in a six-player deal. The Marlins also acquired infielder-outfielder Kiki Hernandez and outfielder Austin Wates for third baseman Colin Moran, outfielder Jake Marisnick, right-hander Francis Martes and a 2015 compensatory draft pick.

The Mariners acquired outfielder Chris Denorfia from the San Diego Padres for pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen and outfielder Abraham Almonte.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dealt outfielder Gerardo Parra to Milwaukee and infielder Martin Prado to the Yankees for minor leaguers and cash.

Phillies: Philadelphia left-hander Cliff Lee, who recently returned after missing two months with a left elbow strain, left in the third inning of Thursday's game at Washington. The Phillies announced that Lee had a recurrence of the left flexor pronator strain that sidelined him in May.

Angels: Los Angeles left-hander Tyler Skaggs left the game against Baltimore with left forearm tightness. Skaggs held the Orioles hitless before walking off the mound with two outs in the fifth inning.

Twins: Former A's catcher Kurt Suzuki, 31, signed a two-year, $12 million contract extension with Minnesota. He is hitting .304 with two home runs and 41 RBIs and made his first All-Star team.

Gehrig ticket stub: A ticket stub signed by Lou Gehrig on the day he retired from baseball has sold in a Cleveland auction for $95,600. The July 4, 1939, ticket was sold by Heritage Auctions.